Results 7,041-7,060 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Seanad: Treaty of Amsterdam: Motion (18 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: I thank the Senators for their participation in the debate. Unfortunately, Senator Bacik has just left but I wish to inform Senators that an information note on this issue was submitted to the EU steering committee in August. The proposal itself was laid before both Houses in August. We must bear in mind that the Government felt strongly that we should be part of the debate. This is not...

Written Answers — Social Insurance: Social Insurance (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Insured workers are required to pay PRSI contributions based on their level of income. These contributions provide entitlement to benefits and pensions under various social insurance schemes. As such, PRSI contributions are calculated as a percentage of reckonable earnings of employees — subject to various thresholds, allowances and ceilings. Both the employee and his or her employer pay a...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department's Output Statement for 2007 has been published on the Department's website with effect from 14th August 2007.

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The purpose of rent supplement is to assist eligible people who are unable to provide for their immediate accommodation needs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the Health Service Executive. The Executive has advised that the person concerned left his local authority...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Programme for Government features a number of commitments in relation to social welfare pensions including the payment of an over 80 allowance on the qualified adult portion of the pension. This measure will be addressed over the lifetime of the Government.

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Travel Policy of my Department is fully compliant with the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. The code, effective from 9 September 2004, underpins the rules governing gifts, hospitality and the acceptance of appointments outside the civil service. Under section 16.2 of the code, benefits under frequent flier schemes may be retained by individual civil servants in recognition...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Plans to replace this office with a new one are at an advanced stage. The Office of Public Works, which is responsible for the provision of accommodation for my Department, has identified a replacement office on Parnell St and it is expected that these new premises will be ready for occupation by end 2008. The scale of works required to make the current building accessible to persons with...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Disability Act 2005 places significant responsibilities on public bodies to make their services accessible to people with disabilities where practicable and appropriate. A number of specific provisions are contained in the Act relating to accessibility of services for people with disabilities including access to Departmental Offices and information services. The Act also includes the...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Medical Review and Assessment Service (MRAS) is the principal control mechanism for all illness and disability schemes administered by my Department. The role of the Medical Assessor in the MRAS is to assess our customers to ascertain if they satisfy the prescribed medical criteria for the various illness related schemes operated by my Department. The average turnaround time of cases...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: In order to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory) a person must enter social insurance 10 years before pension age, pay a minimum number of contributions at the appropriate rate and achieve a minimum yearly average contribution rate over their working life. The qualifying conditions are designed to uphold the contributory principle that underpins social insurance payments generally, and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department has spent €1,781,755 on paper and stationery to end-September 2007, the latest date for which figures are available. This figure includes some €145,066 which can be attributed to the purchase of paper for use in photocopies and printers, all of which is recycled paper. The Department uses almost 18,000,000 envelopes annually all of which are produced from recycled...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 379 together. It important that those who wish to continue in employment after normal retirement age should, as far as is possible, be facilitated and supported. Longer working can play an important role in ensuring that our pensions system is sustainable in the future and can be beneficial to the individual. The Green Paper on Pensions includes an...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The purpose of a rent supplement is to assist eligible people who are unable to provide for their immediate accommodation needs from their own resources. The scheme is administered by the Health Service Executive on behalf of my Department. Payment is subject to a means test, which is designed to encourage people to take up whatever employment opportunities are available to them. The person...

Written Answers — Family Support Services: Family Support Services (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department commissioned research under the Government's Families Research Programme entitled "Balancing Work and Family Life: the role of flexible working arrangements." The report of this study was launched in December 2000. This study looked at the role of flexible working arrangements in helping families reconcile their working lives with family responsibilities. The report highlighted...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department, because of the nature of it's work, is privileged to hold extensive and detailed personal information about our customers. Most employees of the Department need and have access to this information in order to deliver the Department's services. The Department is aware of its obligations to ensure that information is collected appropriately, is maintained securely and is used...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: My Department was approached by third parties to assist them in contacting individuals who could not be contacted at the address held in their name on the third parties' records. In response, the Department proposed that, if it appeared to be in an individual's interests to be contacted, it would issue correspondence to an address recorded in that individual's name on the Department's...

Written Answers — Electronic Payments System: Electronic Payments System (24 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: It is government policy to facilitate the greater use of electronic payment systems in the economy in the interests of developing a world class payments environment in Ireland. In this context, the National Payments Implementation Programme Advisory Group, under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, monitors the growth in electronic payments, the reduction in cash transactions and...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The supplementary allowance (SWA) scheme, including rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The person concerned applied for rent supplement in September 2007. Her application is held pending determination of her entitlement to participate in my Department's Back To Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme. The...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: Child benefit (CB) is a universal payment, paid in respect of children up to the age of 16 years. It continues to be paid in respect of children up to age 19 who are in full-time education, or who have a physical or mental disability. Studies have shown that poverty is concentrated in larger families. In recognition of this, the child benefit scheme is designed to ensure that additional...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (24 Oct 2007)

Martin Cullen: The Southern Area of the Health Service Executive has advised that they have no record of this application. The executive further advises that if the person concerned contacts the Community Welfare Officer at her local health centre in Kilmallock (phone: 061 98411), the matter will be dealt with without delay.